The PhD programme in Women's Studies is aimed at providing doctoral candidates with the opportunity to pursue research in the interdisciplinary area of Women's Studies under the guidance of senior faculty members and scholars from the field.

Depending on the level of preparedness, candidates may be asked to undertake required coursework before embarking on doctoral research. Research areas are determined by the candidates with the help of a doctoral committee and in consultation with individual supervisors. The programme is aimed at creating a pool of scholars and experts in the growing field of women's studies.

Many learners, while pursuing degrees and specialisations in a variety of disciplines, develop scholarly interests in issues specifically concerned with women, and a desire to continue their academic pursuits through specialized research in this area. This programme provides such students the perfect opportunity to pursue their research interests within their area of specialisation.

This programme would also help to create a pool of specialised experts in the field of Women’s Studies, who may later be employed in teaching at the university level, in public service, in non-governmental organizations, or in a variety of other fields where specialized research on women or women’s issues is undertaken. 

In accordance with the University ordinance, the PhD Programme will have workload equivalent to 96 credits. Workload for course work, where prescribed, may be decided as per University ordinances. 

Teleconferencing

Teleconferencing is a one-way video and two-way audio facility. Teleconferencing will be held every month. During teleconferencing session, you will get an opportunity to interact by phone in facility or fax with the resource persons/experts who participate in teleconferencing session and clear your doubts immediately.

The teleconferencing facility will be available at the Regional Centre and Selected Study Centres. The teleconferencing schedule will be sent to the Programme In-charge and Regional Director who would inform the students. Teleconferencing is done through Gyan Darshan Channel. You must regularly attend these sessions. These will help you to clarify doubts and interact with other learners all over the country.

Radio Counselling

Radio counselling will be held through FM and you can ask questions free of cost with phone in facilities right from your home. A toll free telephone number 110012345 has been provided for this purpose.

Telecast

The programme will also be telecasted through DD Metro channel and schedule will be informed to students in advance.

Audio-video Programme

Audio and video programmes for each course have been prepared to support your learning. These Audio-video programmes in the form of cassettes are available at all Programme Study Centres. These Audio and video cassettes will be provided for viewing and listening. You can also hire the cassettes for viewing and listening.

Attendance

You will be required to complete seventy-five percent attendance in theory counselling to become eligible for appearing in Term-end Examination. Similarly, you will be required to complete ninety percent attendance in practical contact sessions to become eligible for appearing in practical examination.

Continuous Evaluation of Theory Component

Assignments

Assignment is a means of continuing assessment of theory and practical. Assignments will help you to recapitulate the theory and go back to the text again in case you are unable to answer a particular question. Thus assignments also help to reinforce learning in distance learning system of education. These assignments consist of a set of questions and activities that you will answer at your own place by referring your blocks.

The assignments will cover all types of questions (long answer type, short answer type, objective type, multiple choice questions and case studies). The assignments will carrythirty percent weightage. You will be required to obtain fifty percent marks as pass percentage in each assignment separately. Each assignment will carry 100 marks. In the final result assignments will carry thirty percent weightage.

Term-end Examination

As stated earlier, term-end examination is the major component of the evaluation system and if carries seventy percent weightage in the Final result. The University conducts term-end examination twice a year i.e., in June and December. You can take the examination only after completion of the course, failing which you can take the same in December or June of subsequent years years within the total span of the programme.

In case you fail to get a pass score in the Tern-end Examination, you will be eligible to reappear at the next Term-end Examination for that course as and when if is held, within the total span of the Programme.